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Fire Department presents FY26 budget and expands mobile integrated health teams
Summary
Fire Chief Richard Kelly presented the department's FY26 proposal, which includes a reduction of staffing on one engine company, investment in station remodels and IT funded by a proposed fire sales tax increase, and formalizing four Mobile Integrated Health positions added mid‑year.
Chief Richard Kelly presented the Fire Department—Y26 budget and described operational metrics and new and ongoing programs, including the Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) program.
Kelly said the department would present a modest overall increase driven by personnel roll-ups and investments in facilities and technology. He said the proposal includes deletion of 15 positions associated with Engine 51 (a double-house engine at Station 1) and described that as a reduction in staffed apparatus; he said "there will be no firefighters that are losing their jobs" and that the department would absorb the positions internally and work to restore the company when funding and staffing permit. Kelly said the department would pursue federal SAFER grant opportunities to restore staffing if possible.
Kelly described a proposed 1.7-cent increase to the fire sales tax to support fire IT, station construction and remodels, and sleeping-quarters conversions (splitting large dorms into separate sleeping rooms to reduce sleep interruptions). He explained capital encumbrances for apparatus and long lead times for deliveries.
On medical and alternative response work, Kelly and Lori Brown Loftus, MIH program manager, explained the mobile integrated health care teams and their four units: crisis call diversion (inside 911), Crisis Response Team (paramedic + mental health professional), Alternative Response Team (lower-priority mental health/overdose response with peer supports), and a Community Advocacy Program focused on long-term supports. A video shown to council described MIH goals: "make sure that when individuals are calling 911, they are able to get the absolute best and correct response." Kelly said the MIH alternative response units had 1,324 responses in a reporting period and an average response time of 16 minutes for that program, and that two peer recovery specialists and two health responders had been added midyear and were now codified in the FY26 proposal.
Kelly highlighted prevention work: the department has installed 5,708 smoke alarms through canvassing and calls and tracks turnout and travel-time benchmarks (turnout target: 60 seconds 90% of the time; structure fire travel-time target: six minutes 90% of the time). He said the department would continue facility upgrades and data-driven decision-making.
Council members praised MIH and urged broader public awareness; Kelly and staff said they were using public relations channels and would continue outreach.
Ending: The department's budget presentation concluded with requests for follow-up and no formal vote at this hearing.
